BC News Release
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NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Office of the Premier 2011PREM0018-000255 March 14, 2011 Premier Christy Clark announces cabinet VICTORIA – Premier Christy Clark today announced a new, smaller cabinet focused on putting families first, creating jobs and changing the way British Columbians engage with their government. “Our new cabinet will reflect the priorities of British Columbians and put families at the centre of all our decision-making,” said Premier Clark. “Together, we will focus on creating jobs and building a strong economy because that is the single most important thing we can do to support families and ensure we can invest in critical services like health and education. This is a team that will work hard to ensure that prosperity and opportunity extend to every region of our province.” The new cabinet is made up of 17 ministers plus the premier, reduced from the previous total of 24. This includes the new Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, which will bring together many of the functions in government focused on job creation under a single ministry. As well, three new cabinet committees reflect the priorities of government – the Committee on Families First; the Committee on Jobs and Economic Growth; and the Committee on Open Government and Engagement. Responsibility for colleges and universities has been recombined under the Ministry of Advanced Education; responsibility for mining has been returned to the Ministry of Energy and Mines; Labour and Citizen Services have been combined; and Forests and Lands has been combined with Natural Resource Operations. The new cabinet appointed and sworn into office by the Lieutenant-Governor in a ceremony today is: Premier – Hon. Christy Clark Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance – Hon. Kevin Falcon Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation – Hon. Mary Polak Minister of Advanced Education – Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Minister of Agriculture – Hon. Don McRae Attorney General – Hon. Barry Penner Minister of Children and Family Development – Hon. Mary McNeil Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development – Hon. Ida Chong Minister of Education – Hon. George Abbott Minister of Energy and Mines (minister responsible for Housing) – Hon. Rich Coleman Minister of Environment – Hon. Terry Lake Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations – Hon. Steve Thomson Minister of Health – Hon. Michael de Jong Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation – Hon. Pat Bell Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government – Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General – Hon. Shirley Bond Minister of Social Development (minister responsible for multiculturalism) – Hon. Harry Bloy Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure – Hon. Blair Lekstrom Additionally, 10 MLAs have been named as parliamentary secretaries, and will work with ministers to focus on key initiatives of government. Rich Coleman will serve as the Government House Leader and Terry Lake will be the deputy Government House Leader. Ben Stewart will be the Government whip. “We want British Columbians to have the opportunity to be more engaged with government decision- making,” said Premier Clark. “We will work with citizens to find solutions to problems, set priorities openly and explain why we make the decisions we do. British Columbia is starting from a position of strength. It is up to us to build on this strength for the betterment of families across our province.” Contact: Shane Mills Director of Communications Office of the Premier 250 661-1015 Six Backgrounders are attached BACKGROUNDER Members of the Executive Council Premier – Hon. Christy Clark Finance and Deputy Premier – Hon. Kevin Falcon Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation – Hon. Mary Polak Advanced Education – Hon. Naomi Yamamoto Agriculture – Hon. Don McRae Attorney General – Hon. Barry Penner Children and Family Development – Hon. Mary McNeil Community, Sport and Cultural Development – Hon. Ida Chong Education – Hon. George Abbott Energy and Mines (Minister Responsible for Housing) – Hon. Rich Coleman Environment – Hon. Terry Lake Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations – Hon. Steve Thomson Health – Hon. Michael de Jong Jobs, Tourism and Innovation – Hon. Pat Bell Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government – Hon. Stephanie Cadieux Public Safety and Solicitor General – Hon. Shirley Bond Social Development (Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism) – Hon. Harry Bloy Transportation and Infrastructure – Hon. Blair Lekstrom The following members of the legislative assembly are appointed as parliamentary secretaries: Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier – John Les Parliamentary Secretary for Natural Gas to the Minister of Energy and Mines – Pat Pimm Parliamentary Secretary for Clean Technology to the Minister of Energy and Mines – John Yap Parliamentary Secretary for Natural Resource Operations Review to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations – Randy Hawes Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors to the Minister of Health – Margaret MacDiarmid Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Economic Development to the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation – Donna Barnett Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Research and Innovation to the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation – Moira Stilwell Parliamentary Secretary for Non-profit Partnerships to the Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government – Gordon Hogg Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism to the Minister of Social Development – Richard Lee Parliamentary Secretary for Public Transportation to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure – Iain Black Contact: Shane Mills Director of Communications Office of the Premier 250 661-1015 BACKGROUNDER Cabinet Committees Priorities and Planning Committee Premier Christy Clark (Chair) Rich Coleman (Vice Chair) George Abbott Pat Bell Stephanie Cadieux Michael de Jong Kevin Falcon John Les Ben Stewart Treasury Board Kevin Falcon (Chair) Shirley Bond (Vice-Chair) Harry Bloy Ida Chong Colin Hansen Randy Hawes Terry Lake John Les Mary McNeil Barry Penner Cabinet Committee on Families First Mary McNeil (Chair) Margaret MacDiarmid (Vice Chair) George Abbott Harry Bloy Marc Dalton Michael de Jong Dave Hayer Gordon Hogg Joan McIntyre Jane Thornthwaite Naomi Yamamoto Cabinet Committee on Jobs and Economic Growth Pat Bell (Chair) Moira Stilwell (Vice Chair) Donna Barnett Iain Black Shirley Bond Rich Coleman Blair Lekstrom Mary Polak Ralph Sultan Steve Thomson John van Dongen Environment and Land Use Committee Steve Thomson (Chair) Terry Lake (Vice Chair) Murray Coell Rich Coleman Eric Foster Randy Hawes Kash Heed Don McRae Pat Pimm Mary Polak Cabinet Committee on Open Government and Engagement Stephanie Cadieux (Chair) Blair Lekstrom (Vice Chair) Ida Chong Gordon Hogg Kevin Krueger Richard Lee Don McRae John Slater Naomi Yamamoto Legislative Review Committee Barry Penner (Chair) Rich Coleman (Vice Chair) Ida Chong Michael de Jong Douglas Horne Blair Lekstrom Norm Letnick John Rustad Ben Stewart Ralph Sultan Contact: Shane Mills Director of Communications Office of the Premier 250 661-1015 BACKGROUNDER Summary of ministry responsibilities OFFICE OF THE PREMIER General Responsibilities Cabinet operations Corporate planning Strategic policy and legislative priorities Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat Board Resourcing and Development Office MINISTRY OF ABORIGINAL RELATIONS AND RECONCILIATION General Responsibilities Aboriginal policy and coordination Negotiation and implementation of treaty and non-treaty agreements Consultation and accommodation policy Crown/First Nations relationships Partnerships and Community Renewal First Citizens’ Fund Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions BC Treaty Commission First Peoples’ Heritage, Language and Culture Council Native Economic Development Advisory Board MINISTRY OF ADVANCED EDUCATION General Responsibilities Universities Colleges Post-secondary financing Post-secondary policy and accountability Student financial assistance Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions University Boards of Governors Colleges and institutes Private Career Training Institutions Agency BC College and Institute Boards British Columbia Council on Admissions and Transfers Degree Quality Assessment Board MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE General Responsibilities Agriculture, aquaculture and food industry development Animal health and crop/plant protection Food safety and quality Commercial fisheries and fish processing Marine fisheries and seafood industry development Crop insurance Grazing and range stewardship policy Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions Agricultural Land Commission BC Farm Industry Review Board BC Wine Institute MINISTRY OF ATTORNEY GENERAL General Responsibilities Criminal justice and family law Administrative law policy Court administration Legal aid and public legal education Alternate dispute resolution Family maintenance Legal services to government Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions Legal Services Society BC Utilities Commission BC Human Rights Tribunal BC Law Institute BC Review Board Environmental Appeal Board Forest Appeals Commission Oil and Gas Appeal Tribunal MINISTRY OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT General Responsibilities Adoption and reunion services Child protection and family development Foster care Child care Children and youth with special needs Child and youth mental health Youth justice programs Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions BC College of Social Workers Provincial Child Care Council MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY,